Self-closing clamping implement



July 11, 1950 w. J. SCHUESSLER ETAL SELF-CLOSING CLAMPING IMPLEMENT Filed Nov. 25, 1945 my: Fz aa. Fly 4.

INVEN TOR-S M J. 5chues$len i L.L.Maryan,

A'Horneys.

Patented July 11, 1950 UNITED Y STATES PATENT, OFFICE William J Schuessler, Spavinaw, and'LeoneL Morgan, Vinita, Okla.

Application November 23, 1945, Serial No. 630,366 a 2 Claims. 01. 81. -4s

The present invention relates] to clamping I implements and is more particularly concerned with. a selfrclosing clamp. V

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a clamping implement with adjustable means for regulating the pressure of the clamping jaws.

Another object is to provide an implement of the character referred to, which is constructed to obviate the strain and tension incident to prior devices.

A further object of the invention is to produce a clamping implement of simpler and more com- Figure 51s a transverse section on line 5-5,

of Figure 3.

Like numerals in the description and drawings designate the same parts of construction.

The clamping implement consists of two components l and 2 which are detachable. Member I is an elongated straight handle or grasp, either of hollow or solid material, which is provided at one end with a jaw 3 having a rough or irregular surface to grip the object to be held. The opposite end of member I is curved, as at 4, to form s an elbow or bend, and the upper surface of the bend is notched as at 5, to provide an inclined rack.

Fulcrumed on a lug or projection 6, on the top side of member I, .at a suitable distance from jaw 3, is the member 2, which consists of resilient metal provided with a longitudinal slot 1 adapted to admit a rotatable fulcrum pin 8 mounted in lug 6 and having a head adapted to pass through said slot. When the two members are joined, the pin is partially rotated to lock them together. The resilient member 2 is provided at its upper end with a jaw 9 which is similar to jaw 3 on member I and adapted to collaborate therewith. Normally the two jaws are held together by the spring action of member 2. This member is suitably bent at H) and H to impart elasticity and facilitate operation of the 2 jaw 9. Between bends l0 and H member 2 is substantially straight and it'is of suitable. width to be grasped in the. hand with member I.

The end of member 2, below bend I l, projects inwardly and is adapted to be positioned in any of the notches 5 for the purpose of adjusting the pressure on the jaws of the implement. To prevent the end from slipping out of engagement, the bottom edge of the resilient member 2 is notched, as at l2. When the jaws engage an object, the pressure exerted by the resiliency of member'Z will be constant and will not require control by hand. By compressing the two members the jaws are opened and by releasing same the jaws are closed.

This clamping implement is suitable for work in watch making and repairing, in surgery, and generally in mechanics.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a clamping implement, comprising a pair of cooperating clamping members provided with corresponding jaws at one end of said clamping implement, the features which include having a first clamping member which is substantially rigid and straight along the major portion of its length and of substantially round cross-section with a plurality of notches formed in the end opposite to that carrying the jaw thereon and intermediate the jaw and the end carrying the notches carrying a fulcrum pin normally disposed transversely of said clamping member, and the other clamping member being formed of a flat metal strip having an elongated aperture longitudinally disposed therein to register with and be engaged by said fulcrum pin, the major portion of the length of the second or other clamping member diverging outwardly downward from the first-mentioned clamping member toward the end opposite to that carrying the jaw thereon and having an arcuate cut-out portion at the mentioned opposite end adapted to engage in the notches of the notched end or portion of the first-mentioned clamping member.

2. In a clamping implement, comprising a first clamping member having a clamping jaw at one end and a notched portion at the other end, and a cooperating clamping member having a second clamping jaw at one end adapted to cooperate with the first-mentioned clamping jaw, the features which include having the first clamping member rigid, substantial and straight along the major portion of its length with the end carrying the clamping jaw exteriorly tapered and the notched portion arcuate in form and provided with a plurality of notches upon the inner concave side thereof facing the same side of said first clamping member as the clamping jaw at the other end, 3, lug fixed intermediate the latter jaw and the notched portion upon said first clamping member and being disposed a short distance from the jaw and a relatively longer distance from said notched portion, and a fulcrum pin mounted on said lug and adapted to be disposed transversely of the clamping member, and having the second clamping member formed of a resilient fiat metal strip which is substantially straight from the one end carrying the clamping jaw to a, short distance past the lug on said first clamping member, with the one end of said second clamping member reinforced to form the clamping jaw thereon and having an elongated slot longitudinally disposed in the 7 straight portion thereof for receiving the fulcrum pin on the lug of said first clamping member, the straight portion of said second clamping member being formed with a double bend at the inner or lower end thereof, with said second clamping member diverging outwardly and downwardly from the first clamping member beyond said double bend and the lower end of said second clamping member beyond the outwardly and downwardly-diverging portion thereof bent downwardly inward toward the interior of the arcuate notched portion of said first clamping member and normally engaging with one of the notches therein.

WILLIAM J. SCHUESSLER.

LEONE L. MORGAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 145,564 Greenleaf Dec. 16, 1873 924,426 Callahan et a1. June 8, 1909 1,061,358 Culver May 13, 1913 1,613,929 Burckhalter Jan. 11, 1927 1,795,256 Johnson Mar. 3, 1931 2,207,930 Miller July 16, 1940 2,340,995 Smith Feb. 8, 1944 

